Gordon Murray Automotive made quite a splash during this year’s Monterey Car Week. The company launched its new Gordon Murray Special Vehicles division to focus on building limited-run models. To show what was possible from the fresh initiative, the brand displayed the GMSV Le Mans GTR and S1 LM.
CarBuzz had the opportunity to sit down with Gordon Murray Group CEO Phil Lee and discuss the future of the special vehicles division. The company already has some big plans for what’s possible. Exciting things are on the horizon.
The Future Of Gordon Murray Special Vehicles Division
We jumped right in, asking for an outlook on the company’s future, particularly with an eye towards any possible collaborations with other vehicle designers. On that front, don’t expect to see much happen outside the GMA family, but anything is possible.
“The idea is that we keep it quite close-knit. I mean, this was the first car of doing that, and I wouldn’t rule it out. Yeah, I wouldn’t rule it out, of course. Certainly, for the next few projects that we’ve got mapped out, the next four, we’ve got well over 12, actually, at the moment.”
– Phil Lee, Gordon Murray Group CEO
Despite the special vehicles division only premiering recently, the Gordon Murray Group has clearly been planning for this new undertaking for quite a while. Coming up with over 12 limited-run vehicles takes quite a bit of time, especially with four of them nearer on the horizon.
Both new Gordon Murray Special Vehicles are fascinating. They ride on the existing Gordon Murray Automotive vehicle platform but feature unique styling. The Le Mans GTR is a tribute to long-tail endurance race cars. As a nod to the day-long race, the company is building just 24 of them. Power comes from the GMA T.50’s Cosworth-developed 4.0-liter V12 capable of revving to 12,100 rpm. The engine produces 661 horsepower and 353 pound-feet of torque, while using a six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.
The Le Mans GTR is more of a track-focused machine than a regularly usable road car. The company fits a stiffer, lighter suspension and revises the weight distribution to be better for use on a circuit. Plus, the engine mounts directly to the chassis. Inside, the automaker constructs custom pieces for the switches, dials, pedals, and more.
Meanwhile, the S1 LM is a direct homage to the iconic McLaren F1, a project from earlier in Gordon Murray’s career. The company is limiting production to just five units. It packs a new 4.3-liter version of GMA’s V12, which boosts the output to over 690 hp, while still revving to 12,100 rpm. It also uses a six-speed manual. The vehicle’s design includes a clear portion on the rear of the decklid, which lets onlookers see the intake, exhaust, and inboard suspension layout.
What’s Next From Gordon Murray Automotive
Outside the Special Vehicles group, Murray’s operation is keeping very busy.
“We have a product strategy; that’s the formal side of GMA, and we know where we are going,” said Lee. “Gordon has designed cars at the concept level to 2040. Can you believe that?”
It’s hard to know exactly what Lee’s statement means. Murray could be constantly sketching ideas for the company to consider. Or, he could have an archive of ideas from years of work that would be enough to build new cars through 2040.
While relatively new in comparison to industry stalwarts such as Porsche, Lamborghini, or Ferrari, Murray has a well-established name in high-performance vehicles after a career in Formula One, being instrumental in creating the McLaren F1, and working on projects such as the Light Car Company Rocket. Gordon Murray Automotive plans to retain naturally aspirated engines and manual gearboxes for as long as possible.
“We’ve got some certainty about our core markets until 2035,” explained Lee. “I can say, for sure, we are committed to the V12 because it’s at the heart of what we are about. There is growth within the V12 product cycle, but we have to be more clever about how to get more brake horsepower. That’s where the cleverness comes from, and that’s what you’ll see as we unveil the technology roadmap. I look forward to talking about that in the future. It’s really exciting.”
The company still sees its buyers as “early investors,” according to Lee. These folks are helping to create demand for the automaker’s vehicles, because potential buyers have a fear of missing out on the next great supercar brand. The boss says the business is “almost overwhelmed” with the current level of vehicle requests.